Major Matina Jewell
(Retired) CSP
Life-changing perspective from the front line of leadership, resilience and change.
Major Matina Jewell
(Retired) CSP
Life-changing perspective from the front line of leadership, resilience and change.
Bio
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP is an inspirational trailblazer, helping leaders build resilient teams to thrive through change.
Named in the ‘AFR 100 Women of Influence 2018’, Matina is also a Telstra Business Awards Finalist and was named a CPA Australia ‘Top-10 Smart Thinker’.
Among her honorary roles, Matina is a founding ambassador for Project Thankful, a movement partnered with the United Nations to help empower women and children globally.
A bark portrait painting of Matina was entered for the 2019 Archibald Prize, and her incredible life story has been optioned for a global feature film.
Military Trailblazer & Peacekeeper
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP grew up in the hinterland of Byron Bay and joined the Army at age 17. During her 15-year military career, Matina:
- Served on five missions and earned eight war medals
- Became the only Australian to receive two Republic of Lebanon war medals for acts of bravery on the battlefield and wounded in combat
- Was appointed Officer in Command of the Army Department and Diving Officer for HMAS Kanimbla, then Australia’s largest Navy ship, at only 23 years old
- Was the first woman in the Australian Army to complete the physically demanding "Navy Ship's Diver" course
- Worked with the elite SAS and American Navy SEALS
- Tracked down militia leaders in the Solomon Islands
- Fast-roped from helicopters
- Boarded smuggler ships in the Arabian Gulf
- Trained in three languages (Bahasa Indonesian, Arabic and English)
- Gained her Masters in Project Management
- Served as a Peacekeeper with the United Nations in Syria and Lebanon
Advisor & Ambassador
Since being medically retired, Matina has campaigned for change for veterans and others in need through numerous honorary, ambassador and advisory roles, including:
- Prime Ministerial Advisory Council
- National Mental Health Forum
- ANZAC Centenary Commission, alongside former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser
- National Suicide Prevention Commission
- Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project as Ambassador
- Project Thankful as Ambassador
Change Champion
- 2019 – Archibald Prize Bark Portrait Entrant
- 2018 – AFR 100 Women of Influence
- 2017 – Awarded Certified Speaking Professional (International)
- 2016 – Telstra Women's Business Awards Finalist
- 2015 – A CPA Australia 'Top-10 Smart Thinker'
- Her story featured in a high rating, two-part ABC Australian Story and was syndicated globally with FOXTEL's I Survived
- Her memoir, Caught in the Crossfire (Allen & Unwin) a best-seller
- Her incredible life story has been optioned for a global feature film
Matina is a proud mum to busy young girls with husband Clent Jewell, and lives on the Far North Coast of NSW.
Australian War Memorial
Matina's In-Their-Words contribution, now part of a permanent exhibition at the Australian War Memorial (4.24s)
ABC Australian Story Documentary
The Blue Beret – Parts I & II
(52:30s)
Foxtel Documentary
Foxtel ‘I Survived’ Documentary
(15:33s)
Partnerships
Matina is honoured to be a Brand Ambassador for TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES (TFS) who have supported millions of Australians in financing and protecting their vehicles.
Matina and TFS are aligned in their passion and duty for serving the communities they work and live in.
As a UN Peacekeeper in the Middle East, Matina patrolled ‘The Blue Line’ for many months in her TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO.
And Matina is just as appreciative of the safety and comfort of TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO doing the school drop-off and pick-ups today.
With aligned values of respect, passion, quality, innovation, and collaboration, Matina Jewell is proud to be associated with the HOGO BOSS brand.
With sustainability and success inextricably linked, HUGO BOSS has long been Matina’s first choice as the most accessible, fashionable and innovative wardrobe. “HUGO BOSS offers high quality and comfort every time – whether I’m heading to a keynote speech from a long haul flight, or to a coffee meeting from school pick up”.
Quality, innovation, and responsibility form the foundation of HUGO BOSS sustainability strategy, and focus efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Matina was named in the
‘AFR 100 Women of Influence 2018′.
View Website
Awards
AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards
Finalist 2018
AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards Finalist 2018
Professional Speakers Australia
Certified Speaking Professional 2017
Professional Speakers Australia Certified Speaking Professional 2017
Telstra Business Women’s Awards
Finalist 2016
Telstra Business Women’s Awards Finalist 2016
CPA Australia ‘Top 10 Smart Thinker’
who shaped 2015
CPA Australia 'Top 10 Thinker' 2015
Honorary roles
Project Thankful
Ambassador
Project Thankful Founding Ambassador
Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Ambassador
Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Ambassador
ANZAC Centenary
Commissioner
ANZAC Spirit - ANZAC Centenary Commissioner
AWM Redevelopment
'In Their Words' Contributor
AWM Redevelopment 'In Their Words' Contributor
Recent Activity
Heart breaking scenes in Afghanistan
The sheer desperation, panic & fear across the country is difficult to process.
Many in our defence community are feeling a mixture of raw emotions. Reach out & check in on your mates.
More support at Open Arms or Life Line.
📷2India tv news
After a weekend where a large portion of Australia was in lockdown, & anxiety, frustration & uncertainty are at high levels; don’t underestimate the power of kindness.
Who in your community might benefit from a ‘check-in’ this week?
#matinajewell #thoughtleadership #resilience
Rest in peace Wolf, Du, Big Mack & Hans Peter, my courageous team mates who were Killed In Action whilst serving as UN peacekeepers. May their service & sacrifice during the 2006 Lebanon War never be forgotten.
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the fatal bombing of PB Khiam 💔
I am so pumped for Day 2 of the leadership conference at Byron Bay for leaders in the real estate industry.
Building on the insights from Allan Parker yesterday, Global Wellness leader @timjackadams shared his research around recharging our own battery & thriving sustainably.
Fabulous first day of the leadership retreat at Byron Bay for leaders in the real estate industry.
It’s always an honour to work with the incredible Allan Parker and explore his neuroscience perspective whilst unpacking my battlefield experiences for business. Bring on day 2!
Honoured to give the keynote & share the stage with @ShaneFitzAU at @NSWRFS Assoc conference today. I shared my battlefield experiences of courageous leadership, decision making under pressure & seeing change as an opportunity. Thanks for your generous standing ovation #RFSA2021
Privileged to share my experiences on courageous leadership, connection and teamwork to thrive through change, with the newly appointed senior consultants from @PwC_AU at a national virtual event this week.
#matinajewell #pwc #auditing #professionalservices #leadershipinaction
Pleasure to be invited by @ybrhomeloans & Vow Financial leads @markbouris & @PreeceSean to speak at their National Conference on the sporting legends panel with @dipperthehawk Peter Sterling, & @JoelCaine who MC’d like a master. The amazing Major @MatinaJewell was inspirational
“We can choose the lens we want to see the world through.” The inspiring @MatinaJewell our #NextCare2021 Health Conference! 👏 How will you choose to see the world today?
Thank you to the amazing audience at #NextCare health conference for your wonderful standing ovation today.
An absolute highlight to share the stage with the eloquent and intellectual Kerry O’Brien delivering an insightful Q&A session after my keynote.
I admire people who are really clear on their purpose.
I know that when I am living purposefully, I feel more meaning in everything I do.
And when I take action around my purpose, I feel fulfilled.
I call this ‘dutiful’; the duty we have to ourselves to live life on purpose.
purposeful + meaningful + actionable = fulfilment
It feels beautiful to live dutiful.
